Open Source, Public Domain Software Programming Services
For Free, or For Donations, or For Upfront Payment
I have a hobby of writing free, open source, public domain software. There are examples of my work in the Software section of this site.
I'm most acquainted with: PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, AutoHotkey (AHK), Perl, Inform 6, LSL, CSS, HTML. However, I'll even consider requests that involve any other languages, since I've been wanting to learn other languages, like Java, C, C++, C#, Inform 7, J, Python, Lisp, etc.
(By the way, as of 2/23/2011, I'm just beginning to learn more about WinBinder, which "allows PHP programmers to easily build native Windows applications.")
If you'd like me to write you an open source, public domain script or program of some kind, you're welcome to email me with requests, ideas, and suggestions at:
Also, you're welcome to ask me programming questions.
No request is too big or too small for me to consider. (Though if it's small, it's far more likely I'll be able and willing to do it.)
I plan on releasing all requested software that I complete to the entire world as free, open source, public domain software on this website.
I can't promise that I will be able (or willing) to finish all the requests. Also, I'm kind of shy and usually don't really like writing email, so, you might or might not get a reply, or I might be rather slow to reply. In any case, please feel free to email me repeatedly, and send as many requests and/or questions as you like.
Donations are not required. Your requests, ideas, suggestions, and questions are actually donations themselves, since they'll help inspire me to create more content for this site, which might inspire future donations from many other visitors to this site, as well as increase my web traffic. Plus, I like helping people whether they can pay me or not.
Of course, donations of literally any amount of money are much appreciated. However, it would probably be best to donate to me after I fulfil your request. I would feel guilty about taking a donation from someone with a request that I'm unwilling or unable to fulfil. Unless you really are happy sending me money with no strings attached, in which case - awesome, thanks. :-)
As for upfront payments - please don't send me upfront payments out of the blue. I need to read your proposal first, and figure out whether I'm able and willing to create what you request. If I've accepted your proposal, I'll let you know, and then, you can pay me via Second Life.
I will only accept upfront payments through Second Life, because I think it will be easier to issue refunds through Second Life than PayPal (which takes fees out of anything that is sent to me). If it turns out I'm unable to fulfil a request that involved an upfront payment, then, I will refund the upfront payment via Second Life.
Upfront payments are the best way to encourage me to prioritize your request(s) and question(s) over other projects of mine.
If you were wondering why I'm so much in favor of free, open source software - it's because I agree a lot with Richard Stallman's essay, Why Software Should Be Free.
Sadly, though - only wanting to write free, open source software makes it much more difficult than it might otherwise be for me to make a living. If I were happy to write closed-source, proprietary software, and sell exclusive rights to my work, there are a ton of jobs on oDesk and other freelance sites I could probably do.
But, as it is, I'm only willing to do very simple programming jobs, or some bug-fixing jobs, or non-programming jobs, on oDesk. That leaves me with the eternal problem of not having enough money. Naturally, that's a major nuisance and source of stress (and worse).
However, I'm very stubborn about only wanting to write open source software, and I live with my mom - so, at least for the time being, I can somewhat afford to attempt this experiment of seeing if I can make money by writing open source, public domain software on request.
By the way, another good place to make requests for software is DonationCoder.com.